Vehicle-indicator.



P. H. FIELDING 60F E. LEWIS, 2D. VEHICLE INDICATOR,

,APPLICATION FILED APR-8,1913.

1 1&1 791 a Patented June 1, 1915.

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PHILIP H. FIELDING, OF EAST NORWALK, AND FREDERIC IE. LE'Wl 21), 033SAUGaR'iUGK,

CONNECTICUT; SAID FIELDENG ASSIGNGE; '33.) S513] LET V155,

VEHICLE-INDIGATOR,

Application filed hpril 8, 1813.

v To all whom it may concern Be it known that We, PHILIP H. Finiiornsand Fnunnnic E. LEWIS, 2d, citizens of the United States, residing atEast l'lorwalk and Saugatuck, respectively, in the county and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inVehiole-Indicators, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to improvements in vehicle indicators.

The object of our invention is to indicate at the rear of a vehicle thatthe brakes have been applied and that the vehicle slowing down, to Warnthe driver of a vehi cle Which is following closely in the rear thereof,of this fact, thus avoiding any opportunity for a rear-end collision.

Our invention relates to improved means for accomplishing this result,the construction of which will be more fully referred .to and pointedout in the specification and claim appended hereto.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a vehicle showing theindicator in place; Fig. 2 is a central section of the indicator; Fig. 3is a section on the line o e, Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a reduced end View ofthe indi cator; and Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic View of the circuits.

The indicator comprises a cvlindrical casing 1 provided with a frontWall 2 having an opening 8 therein through which the in sulatedconductors lead into the interior of the'easing. The rear Wall 4 has anopening 5 in its-upper surface which is substantially arc-shaped, and acircular opening in the center thereof having a fiange'fi provided withscrew-threads. A cap or cover 7 he ing cooperating screw-threads fitsover said flange and carries a lens or other transparent closure whichmay be colored as desired, and through which the rays froma small electric incandescent lamp 8 are adapted to shine. This electric lamp ismounted on a, socket 9, Which is pivotally mounted by a. loop of Wire 10closely surrounding said (socket, the ends .11 of which are journaled intrunnions 12 mounted on a bar 13 of insulating material fastened to therear Wall.

althe the low it to be turned to a position Where axis of the lamp Willbe parallel with Specification of Letters Patent.

from the poles or cores of axis of the opening and. permit ti to beremoved when necessa throi ,"h. the opening, The bar 1-5 carries acontain: 14: in sulated from the frame and adapted to contact with thesocket terminal. 3

Suitably mounted on the front w ll is an electromagnet 17, the cores ofWh h are provided with pins 18 adapted to 5. port and guide thearmatiiu'e l?) which carries an arm 20 integral therewith'and which isconnectel to a crankshaft 21 supporte on up rights 22 mounted on across-piece connecting the front and rear Walls of he casing An armrigidly connected '0 the crank-shaft to more therewith, carries at itsupper end a semicircular plate or oanner 25 upon which is displayed theWord Slow, or some other a iipropria'te Word. The arm and plate re nomnally biased to the dotted line position shown. in Fig. 2, by the spring26, and tl'ie armature Li which is coi'istrained to more with the arm isthereinearried to a posit ay eleetro segue-t, The uprights which supportthe arm 524% are spaced from the rearivall of the cas ng in order toprovide a space for the incane lamp and also to provide a space betweenthe rear Wall and the indies plate which Will be illuminated by theelectric lamp when the indicating plate is in perpendicular orindicating; position. 'Iittach 5 also to the front Wall by any suitableframe, is on electromagnetic hell 2'? provided with a gong 20 V i1lwhich may he of any approved form. 0 circuit for the electromagnetpasses through the contact 29 mounted on but insulated from the frontwall of the casing. A slidin contactSO, mounted on. the arm 9A:orintegral therewith, is provided With insulating sections 31 upon whichthe contact 29 rests When the arm is in either of its extreme positions,but which is adapted to complete the circuit through the electric hellWhile the arm is being moved from one extreme position to the other.

A circuit closer 32, which is of the Well known type comprising twocontacts and 34 adapted to he bridged by theinovable contact 35 isspring-pressed to circuit-closing position, but is held in open positionby the vengagem'ent of the plunger 36 mounted on contact 35 withthe'hrake-lever 87', While the brake-lever is in its normal. position.

When, however, the brakes are applied, the brake-lever is moved out ofengagement with the arm and the circuit is closed.

- 7 Referring to Fig. 5, which shows a diagrammatic view of thecircuits, when the brake-lever is moved to apply the brakes,

"the normall open main circuit is closed at points 33, 34 and 35, andcurrent will then passthrough the parallel circuits 38 and 39 containingthe electric lamp 8 and electromagnet 17. respectively, which circuitswill remain closed as long as the brake is applied. The energization ofthe electromagnet will move the arm and indicating plate to itsindicating position and the circuit 40 of the electric bell will beclosed through contacts tion of a driver of a vehicle approaching fromthe rear if he does not see the visual signal. The cutting of theelectric hell out of circuit isdesirable by the fact that the driver ofa motor vehicle often holds the said casing opposite one of saidopenings,

an i'ndicator movable into and out of indicating position opposite theother of said openings, electromagnetic means for actuating saidindicator, an electrically operated audible signal in said casing,parallel branch circuits for said lamp, indicator actuating means, andsaid signal respectively, a circuit adapted to be controlled by thevehicle brake common to said branch circuits, and a contact carried bysaid indicator located in the branch circuit of said audible signal.

In Witness whereof, we subscribe our signatures, in the presence of twoWitnesses.

PHILIP H. FIELDING. FREDERIC E. LEWIS, 2o. Witnesses LESLIE GAMBLE,Units. P. FIELDING.

